Little Rock apartment fire injures two

Blaze took hour to control, displaced 15, fire captain says

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MITCHELL PE MASILUN Mackenzie Grable helps carry some belongings out of her friend’s apartment Saturday after an early morning fire at Sturbridge Apartments in Little Rock. The fire injured two people and displaced 15 from their homes, authorities said.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MITCHELL PE MASILUN Mackenzie Grable helps carry some belongings out of her friend’s apartment Saturday after an early morning fire at Sturbridge Apartments in Little Rock. The fire injured two people and displaced 15 from their homes, authorities said.

An early morning blaze at a Little Rock apartment complex Saturday left two people injured and displaced 15.

About 40 firefighters, seven fire engines, three ladder trucks, a hazardous materials truck and a rescue unit were dispatched at 1:50 a.m. Saturday to Sturbridge Apartments at 1400 Old Forge Drive, said Little Rock Fire Department Capt. Jacob Lear-Sadowski.

When the crews arrived at the scene, smoke and fire were visible on one of the apartment buildings. Firefighters had the blaze under control within an hour, he said, but they were not able to leave the scene until about 6 a.m. Saturday.

A teenager, who jumped from a second-floor window, and one other person were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Lear-Sadowski said. No firefighters were injured.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The 15 displaced people were relocated to other housing units on the complex grounds. The American Red Cross was on hand to assist the families with some necessities and provide gift cards to buy items they may have lost in the fire.

Latasha Martin, who lived in Apartment 1507, said she was inside listening to music with her friend, Reginald Abrahms, when they heard popping and an alarm going off.

Abrahms walked to the door and saw flames shooting from Apartment 1505. He yelled for Martin to call 911.

"While I was on the phone, I was knocking and kicking on doors trying to get people out," Martin said. "The fire was roaring and not slowing down. We knocked on every door that we could."

One neighbor had taken sleeping medication, and Martin said she had to kick and bang hard on the neighbor's door to rouse her.

"She finally woke up, and we got her out of the apartment," Martin said. "She thanked me and hugged me."

Firefighters extinguished the flames and allowed residents back into the building to collect some of their belongings, but Martin said her apartment was destroyed from smoke and water damage.

Her two young children, Adam, 5, and Ruby, 4, had spent Friday night at their father's home. All of their toys, clothing and bedding in her apartment were destroyed, she said.

"We lost everything," Martin said. "But I'm very grateful I was there to help the others get out. Just say a prayer for us, and it will be greatly appreciated."

NW News on 01/16/2017

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